Honorific-Prefix: | The Honourable |
Chris Pearce | |
Constituency Mp: | Aston |
Parliament: | Australian |
Predecessor: | Peter Nugent |
Successor: | Alan Tudge |
Term Start: | 14 July 2001 |
Term End: | 19 July 2010 |
Birth Date: | 1963 3, df=yes |
Birth Place: | Lismore, New South Wales, Australia |
Nationality: | Australian |
Spouse: | Andrea Pearce |
Party: | Liberal Party of Australia |
Alma Mater: | Monash University |
Occupation: | Business executive |
Christopher John Pearce (born 1 March 1963) is an Australian business executive and former politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2010, representing seat of Aston for the Liberal Party. He served as a parliamentary secretary in the Howard government from 2004 to 2007. Outside of his political career he has worked as a senior executive in the IT and telecommunications industries.
Pearce was born on 1 March 1963 in Lismore, New South Wales. He holds the degree of Bachelor of Business from Monash University,[1] and later completed an MBA at Deakin University and a graduate certificate at the University of Divinity.[2]
Prior to entering parliament, Pearce worked as a manager in the information technology and telecommunications industry.[3] He began his career as a marketing executive with Yamaha Music Australia, later working for Telstra as manager of its MobileNet marketing campaign, as a marketing director with United Telecommunications, as a marketing vice-president with Iridium Satellite, and as Australian managing director of BAE Systems.[4]
Pearce joined the Liberal Party in 1992 and was president of its Rowville branch from 1996 to 1999. He also served on the Knox City Council from 1997 to 2000.[1]
Pearce was elected to the House of Representatives at the 2001 Aston by-election, retaining the seat for the Liberal Party following the death of incumbent MP Peter Nugent. He was re-elected at the 2001, 2004 and 2007 federal elections.[5] Pearce was parliamentary secretary to Treasurer Peter Costello from 2004 to 2007.[1] He was responsible for the Howard government's proposed changes to financial services legislation, reported in 2006 as "the biggest overhaul since the corporate law economic reform program began in 1997".[6]
In September 2008, Pearce was included in Malcolm Turnbull's shadow ministry with responsibility for the financial services, superannuation and corporate law portfolio.[1] He served as a shadow minister until June 2009, when he announced that he would retire from federal politics at the next election.[7]
In July 2010, it was reported that Pearce would join Telstra as a business development executive responsible for contracts with government agencies.[3] He was appointed chair of Anglicare Victoria in 2016.[8] He was appointed as an adjunct professor at Deakin Business School in 2019 and has also served as deputy chair of the St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research.[9]